30+ Crime Idioms with Meanings and Examples
Idioms about Crime! Learn useful English Idioms and expressions about Crime with meaning and examples.
Caught red-handed
Meaning: caught in the act of doing something wrong or illegal.
Example: The thief was caught red-handed stealing from the jewelry store.
Break the law
Meaning: to do something that is against the law.
Example: If you break the law, you could end up in jail.
On the run
Meaning: trying to escape from the police or authorities.
Example: The criminal is on the run after escaping from prison.
Behind bars
Meaning: in jail or prison.
Example: The suspect was behind bars for three years before he was released.
In the dock
Meaning: being tried in a court of law.
Example: The accused stood in the dock as the judge read out his charges.
In the clear
Meaning: not guilty or not involved in a crime.
Example: The police investigated him thoroughly and found him in the clear.
A suspect
Meaning: someone who is believed to have committed a crime.
Example: The police have a suspect in custody for the murder.
A scapegoat
Meaning: someone who is blamed for something they didn’t do.
Example: He was made the scapegoat for the company’s financial problems.
A criminal record
Meaning: a record of a person’s criminal history.
Example: The job application asked if the applicant had a criminal record.
A felon
Meaning: a person who has been convicted of a serious crime.
Example: He was a convicted felon who had served time in prison.
A thief in the night
Meaning: someone who steals secretly and quietly, often at night.
Example: The burglars came like thieves in the night and stole everything valuable in the house.
Get away with murder
Meaning: to do something wrong and not get punished for it.
Example: He always gets away with murder because his parents spoil him.
Skeleton in the closet
Meaning: a shameful or embarrassing secret that someone tries to keep hidden.
Example: The politician had a skeleton in the closet that was revealed during the election.
White-collar crime
Meaning: a nonviolent crime committed by someone in a position of trust or authority.
Example: He was arrested for white-collar crime after embezzling money from his company.
Blue-collar crime
Meaning: a crime committed by someone who works in manual labor.
Example: The man was arrested for blue-collar crime after stealing construction equipment.
Bribery
Meaning: the act of giving or receiving something valuable in exchange for a favor.
Example: The company was accused of bribery to secure the contract.
Insider trading
Meaning: the act of buying or selling stocks based on confidential information not available to the public.
Example: The CEO was charged with insider trading after selling his shares before the company’s stock price dropped.
Hit and run
Meaning: a driver who causes an accident and leaves the scene without stopping to help.
Example: The driver who caused the accident was charged with hit and run.
Identity theft
Meaning: the act of stealing someone’s personal information and using it for fraudulent purposes.
Example: She became a victim of identity theft after someone stole her credit card information.
Serve time
Meaning: to spend time in prison as a punishment for a crime.
Example: He served time in prison for robbing a bank.
The long arm of the law
Meaning: the power and authority of the police and the justice system.
Example: Even if you think you’ve gotten away with something, the long arm of the law may catch up with you eventually.
Get a taste of your own medicine
Meaning: to experience the same negative treatment that you have inflicted on others.
Example: The bully finally got a taste of his own medicine when someone stood up to him.
Pay the piper
Meaning: to suffer the consequences of one’s actions, often by paying a price or penalty.
Example: If you choose to ignore your responsibilities, you will eventually have to pay the piper.
Cry wolf
Meaning: to repeatedly raise false alarms or make untrue claims, so that people no longer believe you when there is a real problem.
Example: He cried wolf so many times that when he really needed help, no one believed him.
Fiddle while Rome burns
Meaning: to behave irresponsibly or engage in trivial activities while serious problems or crises are occurring.
Example: Instead of addressing the company’s financial problems, the CEO seemed to be fiddling while Rome burns.
Stick-up
Meaning: a robbery in which the perpetrator uses a weapon to threaten and demand money or valuables from the victim.
Example: The convenience store was the site of a stick-up last night.
Dirty money
Meaning: money earned through illegal or unethical means.
Example: He refused to accept dirty money, even if it meant losing a lucrative deal.
Blood on your hands
Meaning: responsibility for causing harm or death, especially through violent actions.
Example: The dictator has blood on his hands for the atrocities committed by his regime.
Snake in the grass
Meaning: a deceitful or treacherous person who hides their true intentions.
Example: You can’t trust him – he’s a snake in the grass who will turn on you when it suits him.
Cook the books
Meaning: to falsify financial records or reports for personal gain or to cover up wrongdoing.
Example: The accountant was fired for cooking the books to cover up embezzlement.
Throw the book at someone
Meaning: to charge someone with every possible offense and seek the maximum punishment.
Example: The prosecutor wants to throw the book at the defendant for his role in the organized crime ring.
Jump bail
Meaning: to fail to appear in court after being released on bail.
Example: The defendant jumped bail and is now considered a fugitive.
Walk the plank
Meaning: to face certain doom or punishment.
Example: The CEO who was caught embezzling was forced to walk the plank and resign.
Cop a plea
Meaning: to plead guilty to a lesser charge in order to avoid more serious charges.
Example: The defendant decided to cop a plea to a lesser charge to avoid a lengthy trial.
Cook someone’s goose
Meaning: to ruin someone’s plans or prospects, often through deceit or betrayal.
Example: His scheming partner cooked his goose by stealing his ideas and starting a rival company.
